Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Mike R. Huber
  • Patent number: 6568602
    Abstract: A fuel injector performs main fuel injection by raising fuel pressure in a nozzle chamber to lift a check valve member to a fully open position, and performs preinjection or microinjection by operating a solid state motor to lower a check stop so that when fuel pressure in the nozzle chamber is raised the check valve member is limited to lift a much smaller distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Eric M. Bram, Manas R. Satapathy
  • Patent number: 6568367
    Abstract: An electronic control unit varies the braking power level of a compression release brake system for an internal combustion engine in response to a signal based upon a machine's operating conditions. A sensor senses the operating conditions, generates a signal in response to the sensed condition and delivers the signal to the electronic control unit. The sensor can sense a variety of operating conditions including, speed, load, terrain grade, and requested brake power by a machine operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 6517011
    Abstract: A fuel injector pressurizes fuel in a pressurization chamber and ejects the fuel from an orifice. A reverse flow check valve allows fluid communication between the pressurization chamber and the orifice during fuel injection, but blocks fluid communication between the pressurization chamber and the orifice when fuel pressure in the pressurization chamber decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Sudhindra K. Ayanji, Ye Tian
  • Patent number: 6431472
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for fuel injection in an internal combustion engine comprising a nozzle tip with a hollow interior defining a fuel chamber. The nozzle tip has at least one spray orifice opening to an outer surface on the nozzle tip, and a valve member at least partially disposed within the nozzle tip. The valve member is moveable between a first position in which the valve member contacts an upper valve seat to prevent fluid communication of fuel from the fuel chamber to the at least one spray orifice, and a second outward position in which the valve member contacts a lower valve seat to allow fluid communication of fuel from the fuel chamber to the at least one spray orifice. The valve member is directly electrically actuated, preferably by a solenoid. Further, the valve member is biased in the closed position and the valve member is pressure balanced when high pressure fuel in present in the fuel chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ye Tian, Norval J. Wiemken
  • Patent number: 6418720
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for engine braking a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The engine has for each cylinder (2) at least one inlet valve (7) and at least one exhaust valve (9) for controlling communication between a combustion chamber (5) in the cylinder (2) and an inlet system (8) and an exhaust system (10) respectively. In accordance with the invention, the arrangement also establishes communication between the combustion chamber (5) and the exhaust system (10) in conjunction with the exhaust stroke and also when the piston (3) is located in the proximity of the its bottom-dead-center position after the inlet stroke and during the latter part of the expansion stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sean O. Cornell, Ronald D. Shinogle, Scott A. Leman